Theater seat hinge



Jan. 6, 1 942. M. 'r. VANDERVOORT THEATER SEAT HINGE Filed Nov. 3, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet l Mflfo rd T \lgndewoofl 01$; Nhmab 1942- M. T. VANDERVOORT 2,258,914

THEATER SEAT HINGE Filed Nov. 3,1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 6, 194a THEATER SEAT-HINGE Milford T, vandervoorh sag'inawyfMiiilii, 'asslgnor I to American Seating Mich.,a'corporation of NewJersey Application- November a193a s ia1 12 Claims.

7 invention relates to hinges for seats, and

Company, Grand Rapids,

is more particularly concerned with a hinge con- I structionzfor theater seats for, mounting the folding :Seati-mEmber upon supporting standards in a noveland-jpractical manner. The present invention is, concerned. with many improvements ing-and with relation to the -theater 'seathinge structure shown in o my prior-Patent N o; 2;070',387, issued :Februaryfi, -1937;

i The present invention has for its object and purpose the provision of a :seat hinge of the type stated, wherein; 'the hinge parts have a substan: tially universal-movement with respect to each other, ;permitting the standards on which :one

member 'ofthe hinge is connected to be. disposed at various; angles with respect to' the ielding seat uponwhichthe other member, of the hingeis permanently secured. -s uch1universal movement permits the installation of :rows I of seats with :consecutivespaced apart standardsein the-row,ieachserying to carry one-side of each oftwowfoldingseats, and; with the row of seats disposed -in-a:curved-f0rm; such as :the arc of a circle -or otherwise and; with any 7 desired variation in the radius of curvature of the-arc "of any row or of different :rows of the seats. Aiurther object oithe invention is to provide a construction which is very economical to v produce, substantially all parts being readily for-med from sheet metal andstampedor pressed to shape, and

with the; assembly of the parts being easy andeconomical. f L

. many otheruobjmtsand purposes ofthe in-. vention will appear as an understanding of the invention is had from thefollowing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,jin-which:

. Fig. :1 is; a .1 fragmentary' front elevation illustra-tive :of thelojcation of aplura'lityrof theater seats in a row, tone of--the seats being shown com- Fig. '7 -is avperspective view of the parts comprising one of .;the;hinge members which hinge member iniusesis connecte'd to a sideuof a standard...-:- M

I Like;referenceicharacters frefer toflike parts in the 'difierentfigures of the drawings.

The :vertical --standards: lfor supporting the theater (pr-similar seats are spaced apart from each other, and between any two adjacent standardsthe foldingseati is located inpfront of a substantially vertical back 3, the backs 'of the seats being secured between any two consecutive standards in an-y; well-known and conventional manner. F-Iheifllding seat members -2 have "sheet metal-brackets connected one at each side and at-thed-Imer;ends' thereof. Thebrackets are of an angle -form having two "legs *4 and B'disposed at right angles to each other. The legs t-ext'end underneath the inner or rear portions of the seat,;;wh i-le the legs-iextend along opposite side edges o-fgtheeseat member 2, asshown. I Theistandards;at;;opposite sides vthereof, where a .rowiofstandardsz are used-or at the inner sides where -onlyygtwo standards and a single seat are 7 assembled -togethen, haverectangular fiat metal plates -6 secured; thereto. -A tubular sleeve 1 at each end is: provided with projecting lugs 13. Said -1u gs-8atone -endg'of the member 1 pass through sui;tablep.openings provided therefor in pletely between two spaced apart supporting standards. a 5 =2'i's :ave-rtical section from frontxto rear, showing the mounting of the seat.

' Fig. 3 is a, fragmentary enlarged :vertical section and side .-elev-ation illustrating the position of the seat when in its-lower substantiallyhori zontal operative position. 7 r e s Fig. .4 isan elevation looking at the-hinge structure with the supporting bracket fora side of :theseat removed the'plate Errand-are riveted overat their ends to permanently-connect the plate 6 and the tube 1 together. 'At the opposite end of the tube -1 'a flat plate islpermanently securedin the same manner, the central portion of which'is'pressed bears ;.against' the leg T5. of the adjacent bracket secured to jther iol ding seat 2 (Fig. '6), Two curved .bearing shoes 1 3 made of .fiat metal, covered at :-their outer curved surfaces with curved fiberemernbers 1.3a, aredisposed around the outer Fig. 5 is atransverse vertical section through the hinge.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinalfvertical section there through, and

{edges of the arms J'O and- I I, each being substan- 1 tially of semircircular form so that the free ends of the shoes I3 approach and come closely adjacent to each..other. .between the side edges and at theends of the arms'QID. At theinner side Off each 0mm; shoes l3 a. channel member having a web l4 and inwardly extending, spaced flanges i5 is permanently secured, the ends ofthe arms opening at I8, after which the plate 6 may be secured to the opposite end of the tube I. Or, the

plate 6 with the tube I attached may be inserted through the opening I8 and the arms III of the plate within the housing then secured to the inner end of the tube 1. Either method of assembly may be used. The housing member, comprising the cylindrical wall I6 and the end I! with the opening I8 therein is-permanently secured to the leg 5 of a seat carrying bracket. As shown in Fig. 6, the housing at the end thereof coming to said leg 5 is provided with an outwardly turned annular flange which lies against the leg 5 of the bracket and may be spot-welded or otherwise rigidly secured in place. The spring I2 is placed with one end in the cup 9 prior to the attachment of the cylindrical housing to said leg 5 of the bracket.

The tendency of the spring I2 is to move the hinge member consisting of the sleeve I and the attached plates longitudinally away from the flange 5. But in assembling the seat with the standards, the springs I2 are compressed in order to enter the plates 6 between the standards, after which said plates 6 are bolted or otherwise secured to the standards I with the springs I2 held under compression.

As shown in Fig. 5, two stops I9 are permanently secured to and at the inner side of the end H of the housing, against one end of each of which one of the flanges I5 of the channel members comes when the seat is in its lower position, and against the other end of each of which the opposite flanges l5 engage when the seat is turned to vertical position, the swing of the seat being slightly less than 90 or from a substantially vertical to a substantially horizontal position, the seat however, not being carried down entirely to a horizontal position, but being inclined somewhat upwardly and outwardly when in its lower position, as appears in Fig. 3.

The housing wall I6 being fixed on the seat and the cylindrical member 1 I being fixed on the standard, the turning of the seat between its two positions isaccomplished by the rotation of the seat with the housing) on the shoes I3, I3a held by the channels l4, I5 on the short arms of the plate which is fastened at 8 on the cylindrical member I. The sleeve 1 may be positioned at an angle so that its axis will not be parallel to or coincide with the cylindrical axis of the wall I6, without in any way disturbing the rotating or turning movement which occurs when the seat is moved between its two positions. The short arms I I may be sufliciently loose in the channels webs I4 and between their flanges I5, and the curved outer ends of the long arms In may be rounded cross-sectionally (as shown in Figure 6).

The springs I2 are available to have varying degrees of compression applied thereto whereby it is not necessary that the standards I between which the folding seat 2 is located shall have an exact predetermined distance between them, said springs I 2 compensating for a considerable variation. The bearing shoes I3, I3a are held outward against the inner sides of the cylindrical wall I6 of the housing, being located around the outer curved edges of the arms I0 and at the outer ends of the arms II, described. The assembly of the seats and hinges with the standards is very readily and easily performed.

In the cylindrical wall I6 of the housing described, a slot 20 is cut, approximating in length, through which a pin 2I extends, which pin may be an extension of one of the rivets securing a channel member I4, I5 to a curved shoe I3 (Fig. 5).

One end of a fiat spring metal member 22 is hooked over the pin 2|, underneath which member is a length of fiber 23 likewise hooked over the pin and disposed between the member 22 and the outer side of the cylindrical wall I5. The member 22 is of spring material so as to bend readily and conform when necessary to the curvature of the outside of the wall IS. A coiled tension spring 24 is secured at one endto the opposite end of the member 22, and has connection with an angle bracket 25 riveted or otherwise permanently fixed on the leg 5 of the seat supporting bracket, the connection being through a screw 26 which passes through an outturned end of the bracket 25 and threads into a nut 21 connected with the opposite end of the spring 24. It is evident that by operating the screw 26, the tension of the spring 24 may be adjusted. When a seat is moved to lower substantially horiozntal position, the spring 24 is stretched, storing power to lift the seat to upper position when released. The bearing of the spring member 22 and the fiber member 23 beneath it on the outer curved sideof the wall I5, provides a friction brake which prevents the seat from violently returning to its upper position as shown in Fig. 2, when released. As shown in Fig. 1 the spring is applied to one of the two hinge members only used with a seat 2, though it is to be understood that such return spring construction; may be applied to both hinges if desired.

The construction of hinge described is economical to produce, the parts are readily and easily fabricated mainly from fiat metal, and the connection of the parts together and their assembly is very simply and easily performed. All of the advantages recited in my prior Patent No. 2,070,387, are retained and with the production of a stronger and much more economical construction, eliminating all castings and the machining thereof.

The invention is defined in the appended claims and is to be considered comprehensive of all forms of structure coming within the scope thereof, and is not to be limited to specific details of construction shown, other'than necessitated b the terms of said claims. 1

I claim: I -1.- A hinge for theater seats or the like comprising, a member which includes a vertical leg adapted to be secured to a seat, a cylindrical housing fixed to said vertical leg having an outer end with a central opening therethrough, a cylindrical member extending through said opening, bearing shoes of substantially semi-cylindrical form within said housing bearing against the inner sides of the wall thereof, a plate connected to the inner end of said cylindrical member, channels connected lengthwise of and at the inner sides of the bearing shoes, said plate having arms extending into said channels, a coiled com pression spring between said plate and the vertical leg to which the housing is attached, a second plate attached to the other end of said cylindrical member and adapted to be secured to a seat carrying standard, a coiled tension spring connected at one end with said vertically positioned'leg at a distance from said cylindrical housing, a thin elongated member of sheet metal to one end of which the opposite end of the ten- 'sion spring is connected, said sheet metal member extending to and partially around the outer side of the housing, and apin connected with one of said bearing shoes and extending through the housing to which the other end of said thin metal member is connected, said housinghaving a slot therein through which the pin passes, said slot permitting a rotative movement of said housing about its cylindrical axis, as specified.

2'. In a hinge structure, a member having a vertical leg adapted to be attached at the side edge of a movable seat, a cylindrical housing secured at one side of said leg, said housing at its outer end having a closure with a central opening therethrough, a cylindrical member extending through said opening having its axis substantially coincident with the axis of the housing, a plate within the housing secured to the inner end of the cylindrical member, bearing shoes around said plate within the housing bearing against the inner cylindrical Walls of said housing, connections extending loosely between said plate and bearing shoes permitting a lengthwise movement of the cylindrical member with respect to the housing and also a limited angular movement with respect thereto, a coiled compression spring between said plate and the said vertical leg to which the housing is secured, a second plate secured to the outer end of the cylindrical member, said second plate being adapted for connection to a seat carrying standard, said housing being rotatable about its axis and around said bearing shoes, and stop means in said housing and carried by said bearing shoes, for limiting the rotative movement of the housing through an arc of approximately 90.

3. A construction containing the elements in combination defined in claim 2, combined with yielding means resisting the rotation of said housing in one direction, and operating to return said housing to its original position when free to do so.

4. A hinge for theater seats comprising, a member adapted to be attached atthe side of a movable seat, said member having a vertical leg, a cylindrical housing permanently secured at the side of said leg, said housing at its outer end being closed and with a central opening through said closure, a cylindrical member of less diameter than the diameter of said opening extending into the housing through the opening, a plurality of :bearing shoes of curved form within the housing bearing against the inner curved wall thereof, a plate secured at the inner end of the cylindrical member, channels having spaced apart inwardly extending parallel flanges the channels being connected to the inner sides of the bearing shoes, said plate having arms the" plate and the said leg to which the housing is attached, the tendency of which'spring being to move the 'seat and housingfrom said standard and the plate and attached cylin'drical member, a second plate secured tothe outer end of said cylindrical memberadapted to be attached to a seat supporting standard, and stop means carried by the housing against which the flanges of said channels are adapted to engage to limit the turning movement of said cylindrical housing in both directions, whereby the housing rotation is limited to an arc of approximately 90;

5.- A'constructioncontaining the elementsin' combination defined in claim 4, said housing having a slot in the wall'there'ofof approximately 90 in length, a pin connected with a bearing shoe passing outwardly through said slot, an elongated member of thin metal attached at one end to said pin and having an outer end portion lying against the outer curved wall of-the housingand then extending tangentially from the housing, anda coiled extension spring connected at one end to the other end of said thin metal member, said spring at its' opposite end being secured to said leg at a distance from the housing, as specified. v

6. A hinge for 'theater'seats or the lik'e'comprising, a metal member adapted to be secured at a side edge of a'movable'seat, said member including a' vertical log, a cylindrical housing secured to said leg, a cylindrical member having its axis substantially in coincidencewith the axis of the housing inserted through the outer end of said housing, curved bearing shoes within-the housing bearing against the inner curved walls thereof, connections extending loosely between said cylindrical member'an'dthe bearing shoes permitting longitudinal movement of the cylindrical member with respect to the housing, spring means between said leg and cylindrical member tending to move the said leg from said cylindrical member, and a means secured to the outer end of said cylindrical member for attachment to a seat standard. a,

'7. A construction containing the elements in combination defined in claim 6, combined with yielding means normally holding said housing at a predetermined position with respect to said cylindrical member but permitting rotation of the housing about the cylindrical member on application of force,- said yielding means returning the housing to its initial position on release of said force, and stops for holding the housing in said initial position and for limiting the extent of rotative movement thereof away from said position. g

8. A hinge for theater seats or the like comprising, two metal hinge members adapted to be secured one at the side edge of a seat and the other to a support, one of .said members including a cylindrical housing and the other of said members having a cylindrical element, the axis of which is substantially in coincidence with the axis of the housing and inserted through one end of said housing, curved opposite bearing shoes within the housing bearing on the inner curved walls thereof, projections on said cylindrical element, and means on the bearing shoes loosely engaging said projections for rotating the shoes by said cylindrical element relatively to said cylindrical housing and for permitting longitudinal movement of said cylindrical element with respect to the housing and also a tilting angular movement with respect thereto, as specified.

combination defined in claim 8, combined with stop means carried by one of said hinge members and engaged by the other, for limiting relative rotative movement of one of said hinge members with respect to the otherv to a predetermined arc of movement.

10. A hinge for theater seats or the like comprising, two metallic hinge members adapted to be secured one at a side edge of a seat and the other to a support, one of said members including a cylindrical housing, a cylindrical element having its axis in substantial coincidence with the axis of the housing inserted through one end thereof, curved opposite bearing shoes within the housing bearing on the inner curved walls thereof, projections extending from the inner end of said cylindrical element outward toward said bearing shoes, means on said bearing shoes loosely engaging the ends of said projections for rotating the shoes by said cylindrical element relatively to said cylindrical housing and whereby said housing and cylindrical element may have a relative rotative movement with respect to each other, also relative movement in a direction parallel to the axis of said housing and cylindrical element, and may have a relative tilting angular movement with respect to each other, and means for limiting relative rotative movement of the housing and said cylindrical element with respect to each other to a predetermined arc of movement.

11. A hinge structure for turnably mounting a seat member on a chairs standard member, or the like, said structure comprising a hollow cylinder approximately horizontal axially mounted on one of said members, a curved shoe rotatably bearing on the inner surface of the cylinder and having angularly spaced channels parallel with its axis, and a spindle mounted on the other of said members extending approximately horizontally into the cylinder spacedly therefrom and having angularly spaced pairs of opposite radial arms the arms of one pair loosely engaging the shoes inner surface and the arms of the other pair loosely engaging in the respective channels for rotating the shoe relatively to the cylinder in the seat member's turning movement and for permitting relative axial movement of the cylinder and spindle and non-alignment of their axes.

12. A hinge structure for turnably mounting a seat member on a chairs standard member, or the like, said structure comprising a hollow cylinder approximately horizontal axially mounted on one of said members, a curved shoe rotatably bearing on the inner surface of the cylinder and having angularly spaced channels parallel with its axis, and a spindle mounted on the other of said members extending approximately horizontally into the cylinder spacedly therefrom and having angularly spaced pairs of opposite radial arms the arms of one pair loosely engaging the shoes inner surface and the arms of the other pair loosely engaging in the respective channels for rotating the shoe relatively to the cylinder in the seat members turning movement and for permitting relatively axial movement of the cylinder and spindle and non-alignment of their axes, and a spring pressing between the cylinder and spindle axially thereof.

MILFORD T. VANDERVOORT. 

